John Letts and Sally Lane told the BBC that, having not heard from their son for several weeks, they suddenly received a message saying he was in a safe zone.

“It was the news we’ve been waiting for for three years – ever since he went out there – and now we just want to get him home,” said Ms Lane.

They believe their son is not being treated badly but are concerned about his mental health. Neither they or the BBC have heard from him since 1 June.

Mr Letts’ parents are calling on the British authorities to do “whatever they can” to help him.

The government had told them that they could only help if he left IS-controlled territory but now he is out “no-one wants to take responsibility”, said Ms Lane.

Image caption
Sally Lane and John Letts want the UK government to help their son get out of Syria

Mr Letts, an organic farmer, acknowledges that his son “will have to account for his actions” once he returns to Britain, but the family is not convinced “he has done anything at all”, from what he has told them.

“If he has had anything to with IS I want nothing to do with him,” said Mr Letts.

“I think there has been so much misinformation, one little piece of information came out and it was manipulated, twisted, as far as I can see,” said Ms Lane.

In a statement, the Foreign Office said: “As all UK consular services are suspended in Syria and greatly limited in Iraq, it is extremely difficult to confirm the whereabouts and status of British nationals in these areas.”

Asked by the BBC why the UK government should help him, Jack said: “I don’t want anyone to help me.